On January 15, Mitsubishi Electric unveiled its updated R&D strategy, highlighting its commitment to advancing technologies like electronic-photonic converging integration (EPCI) besides an increased investment of JPY100 billion (approx. US$6.4 million) in R&D from the fiscal year 2024 to 2030, a 1.7-fold increase over its initial plan. This investment will be funneled into collaborations between industry, academia, and government, supporting efforts to create game-changing technologies.

The industrial computer (IPC) sector faced a turbulent 2024 amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, leading to reduced inventories, order delays, and project postponements. While these challenges are expected to persist into 2025, optimism remains as economic conditions in Europe and the US stabilize. However, aggressive pricing strategies from Chinese IPC firms in Europe present a growing challenge to market growth.

Industry observers anticipate accelerated consolidation among second-tier LCD panel makers as US President Donald Trump prepares to implement new trade policies in his second term.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is teaming up with South Korean semiconductor materials company SoulBrain to develop materials for glass substrates, with plans for mass production by 2027. This partnership aims to enhance Samsung’s supply chain ecosystem and boost the development of next-generation semiconductor technology.